San Francisco, July 6, 2025 — In a bold prediction about the future of software development, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke says the smartest companies in the AI era will increase their hiring of software engineers—not reduce it. Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Dohmke argued that artificial intelligence is a productivity multiplier, not a replacement for human developers.
“The companies that are the smartest are going to hire more developers,” Dohmke said. “Because if you 10x a single developer, then 10 developers can do 100x.”
Rather than seeing layoffs as the new norm, Dohmke believes current job cuts across the tech sector reflect a temporary market correction as companies reassess where AI fits in their long-term strategy. He emphasized that AI enhances coding productivity but doesn’t eliminate the need for experienced, skilled professionals.
AI Enhances, But Doesn’t Replace Expertise
While AI tools like GitHub Copilot have made coding more accessible for beginners and accelerated workflows for seasoned engineers, Dohmke warned against the idea that AI alone can build billion-dollar startups.
“I think the idea that AI without any coding skills lets you just build a billion-dollar business is mistaken. Because if that were the case, everyone would do it,” he noted.
Backlogs Aren’t Shrinking—They’re Growing
Interestingly, Dohmke observed that AI is creating more development work, not less. By eliminating mundane tasks and enabling faster prototyping, teams are now able to tackle ambitious, previously unattainable projects.
He described this as the “most exciting time” to be a developer, as AI brings tech closer to a long-standing dream: turning a Sunday morning idea into a working app by Sunday night.
As AI continues to reshape how software is built, GitHub’s vision suggests a future where engineers remain central—only now, they’re supercharged.
